Big Bass Splash - Day 1

Vic Odegar

Published 12:00 am, Friday, April 16, 2010

A new line class record Alligator Gar lays in the back of a pickup. The 197 lb. fish broke the previous record by 8 pounds and was caught on 14 lb. line by Jarrod Holcomb Friday at the Big Bass Splash Fishing Tournament at Lake Sam Rayburn. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise

A new line class record Alligator Gar lays in the back of a pickup....

This is the polygraph used to give a random hourly winner their polygraph test at the Big Bass Splash Fishing Tournament at Lake Sam Rayburn Friday. All the winners in the hourly competition had to choose from a hat; a colored blue poker chip indicated whom Patrick O'Burke, of Excalibur Consulting, administered the polygraph test and a boat inspection to. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise

This is the polygraph used to give a random hourly winner their...

Randy Turner of Lufkin, TX is leading the Big Bass Splash at the end of day one with his 9.15 pound catch. He weighed the fish during the 8:00-9:00 hour. Photo by Patty Lenderman

Randy Turner of Lufkin, TX is leading the Big Bass Splash at the...

Fisherman keep their fish in water as they wait for the new hourly competition to begin at the Big Bass Splash Fishing Tournament at Lake Sam Rayburn Friday. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise

Fisherman keep their fish in water as they wait for the new hourly...

Greg Temple of Bronson earned $5,000 for weighing in a 3.0 lb. exact weight bass on day one during the 9:00-10:00 hour. Photo by Patty Lendermann

Greg Temple of Bronson earned $5,000 for weighing in a 3.0 lb....

Patrick O'Burke, right, of Excalibur Consulting, looks over paperwork belonging to Harvey Hester, left, an hourly winner, at the Big Bass Splash Fishing Tournament at Lake Sam Rayburn Friday. All the winners in the hourly competition had to choose from a hat; a colored blue disk indicated whom O'Burke administered the polygraph test and a boat inspection to. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise

Patrick O'Burke, right, of Excalibur Consulting, looks over...

Contestants had been gunning for the exact 3, 4 and 5 pound bass all day. Going into the last hour of the tournament, Dean Gaertner of Tomball registered his 5.00 lb exact weight bass for the $5,000 prize. Photo by Patty Lenderman

Contestants had been gunning for the exact 3, 4 and 5 pound bass...

Fishermen head out for the last hour of competition at the Big Bass Splash Fishing Tournament at Lake Sam Rayburn Friday. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise

Fishermen head out for the last hour of competition at the Big Bass...

Jarod Holcomb of Basile, LA got more than he bargained for on his wacky worm. This 197 lb. alligator gar was the surprise at the end of his 14 lb test line! If accepted, this will set a new IGFA line class record, beating the previous record by 8 pounds. Photo by Patty Lenderman

Jarod Holcomb of Basile, LA got more than he bargained for on his...

John Knierim, left, of Academy, has winner Mitch Stephenson, right, of Beaumont, sign his paperwork after his inspection at the Big Bass Splash Fishing Tournament at Lake Sam Rayburn Friday. All the winners in the hourly competition had a boat inspection. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise

John Knierim, left, of Academy, has winner Mitch Stephenson, right,...

Morgan Inman, a Game Warden with Texas Parks and Wildlife, talks about his experiences with fishing tournaments at the Big Bass Splash Fishing Tournament at Lake Sam Rayburn Friday. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise

Morgan Inman, a Game Warden with Texas Parks and Wildlife, talks...

As the large mouth bass were brought in hourly, each one was checked by the "Bump Man" Bobby Amacker, left, who checked the fish's size and condition, and then transfered it to a dry bag for the official weighing. Bobby Amacker, right, of Tomball, turns over his fish during the competition. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise

As the large mouth bass were brought in hourly, each one was...

As the large mouth bass were brought in hourly, spectators would leave their chairs and go watch the fish being transfered to the dry bags for weighing. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise

As the large mouth bass were brought in hourly, spectators would...

A tote board kept people of the official weights at the Big Bass Splash Fishing Tournament at Lake Sam Rayburn Friday afternoon. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise

A tote board kept people of the official weights at the Big Bass...

The chair, where fishermen sat while Patrick O'Burke asked them questions during the polygraph test at the Big Bass Splash Fishing Tournament at Lake Sam Rayburn Friday. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise

The chair, where fishermen sat while Patrick O'Burke asked them...

Patrick O'Burke, left, of Excalibur Consulting, looks over paperwork belonging to Jake Flowers, middle, an hourly winner, and his partner Benjamin Johnson, right, as he inspects their boat at the Big Bass Splash Fishing Tournament at Lake Sam Rayburn Friday. All the winners in the hourly competition had to choose from a hat; a colored blue disk indicated whom O'Burke administered the polygraph test and a boat inspection to. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise

Patrick O'Burke, left, of Excalibur Consulting, looks over...

Fishermen head in and out during the last hour of competition at the Big Bass Splash Fishing Tournament at Lake Sam Rayburn Friday. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise

Fishermen head in and out during the last hour of competition at...

As the large mouth bass were brought in hourly, each one was checked by the "Bump Man" Bobby Amacker, left, who checked the fish's size and condition, and then transfered it to a dry bag for the official weighing. Bobby Amacker, right, of Tomball, turns over his fish to a dry bag. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise

A small sign hangs on the door outside the cabin used to give a random hourly winner their polygraph test at the Big Bass Splash Fishing Tournament at Lake Sam Rayburn Friday. All the winners in the hourly competition had to choose from a hat; a colored blue disk indicated whom Patrick O'Burke of Excalibur Consulting administered the polygraph test and a boat inspection to. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise

A small sign hangs on the door outside the cabin used to give a...

Some of the questions Patrick O'Burke asks during the polygraph test at the Big Bass Splash Fishing Tournament at Lake Sam Rayburn Friday. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise

Some of the questions Patrick O'Burke asks during the polygraph...

Bobby Amacker, left, of Tomball, turns over his fish to Mike Wheatley, right, the official "Weigh Master" for the official weight at the Big Bass Splash Fishing Tournament at Lake Sam Rayburn Friday afternoon. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise

Bobby Amacker, left, of Tomball, turns over his fish to Mike...

Spectators and fishermen would take a moment to try out the latest stuff at some of the manufacturer displays at the Big Bass Splash Fishing Tournament at Lake Sam Rayburn Friday afternoon. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise

Spectators and fishermen would take a moment to try out the latest...

As the large mouth bass were brought in hourly, each one was checked by the "Bump Man" Bobby Amacker, left, who checked the fish's size and condition, and then transfered it to a dry bag for the official weighing. Each fish transfered was then taken onto the stage by the angler and the official weight was taken, recorded, and announced. All the winners in this hourly competition had to then choose from a hat and the winner of the blue disk went with Patrick O'Burke for the polygraph test and a boat inspection. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise

As the large mouth bass were brought in hourly, each one was...

After waiting till all the fish came in, all the competitors in the hourly competition then waited to hear who was the winner and then went to take their chances on picking one blue colored disk. That winner indicated whom Patrick O'Burke of Excalibur Consulting administered the polygraph test and a boat inspection to. All these winners would receive a boat inspection, but only one got the test. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise

After waiting till all the fish came in, all the competitors in the...

The main control on Patrick O'Burke's polygraph equipment has an interesting sticker on it at the Big Bass Splash Fishing Tournament at Lake Sam Rayburn Friday. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise